Hello, let me introduce myself first..
For the first 30 years of my life, everything was smooth and worry-free. I was my parents’ most beloved child, found my true love in college, and happily married him after graduation.
At work, I was my boss’s most valued employee. Whenever I was in charge of a project, colleagues would inevitably say, “Oh, then I’m totally at ease.” I was constantly named “Employee of the Year,” with generous bonuses every year.
Later, I started my own business. Within just three months, I had broken into the market and started making money. By the fifth month, I was earning twice my previous salary. Growth was steady month after month. Right when the business needed more hands, I serendipitously met an amazing partner, and the company reached a whole new level.
Really, it seemed like at every step, whatever I needed, a pair of hands would always place it right in front of me, just in time.
My Two Girls: Ellie & Mia
Meet Ellie, My Firstborn
In 2020, my husband and I decided to have a child. After trying for over a year, we finally got the news in 2021 that a little one was on the way. In 2022, we welcomed our first child, Ellie. She made me a mother.
She is utterly adorable—big eyes, rosy skin, chubby little hands. Every time I look at her, I can’t help but give her a kiss. She is pure joy, and I love her more each day.
But as a first-time mom, I faced unprecedented difficulties. The postpartum tearing wouldn’t heal, and the pain was excruciating. Clogged milk ducts made my breasts hard as rocks. The severe sleep deprivation… And what was even more crushing was that, with zero parenting experience, I was clueless when faced with her unexplained wailing, night terrors, refusal to nurse, constipation, diarrhea, fevers… I desperately searched online, longing for one accurate, truly useful answer!
It was during this time that I thought, once I make it through this “dark” path, I must leave a light on for other new moms.
And Then Came Mia
Ellie had just turned one when I got pregnant again. In 2024, we welcomed our second daughter, Mia.
Completely different from Ellie, Mia is a great eater and sleeper. Although she had her fussy moments in the first two months, starting almost from month three, she became super easygoing. She feeds on schedule, gradually sleeps through the night, loves her solid foods, and adapted quickly when I had to stop breastfeeding due to mastitis.
This made me realize just how vastly different babies can be! It made me even more determined to write about my experiences.
Why I Had to Start This Blog
The Catalyst: A Life Pivoted
After Mia was born, my business also began to decline sharply. I had no choice but to close it and become a full-time mom. My work no longer involves Excel and Word, but instead revolves around changing diapers, washing bottles, making baby food, and managing household chores…
This has been a monumental challenge for me. All my past achievements seem irrelevant now. Managing two young children has brought me a sense of frustration I’ve never known before.
The Daily Reality
They are always fighting over things. When one is in my arms, the other immediately demands to be held too. When I try to cook, Ellie wants me to read her a book. When I attempt to load the washing machine, Mia has a diaper blowout, and I must drop everything to change her…
By the time I finish all that, I see the cup of hot coffee on the table has gone cold again. And it’s not until evening that I remember, “Oh my goodness, the clothes are still in the hamper, unwashed!”
Of course, being a mom is filled with happiness, but that doesn’t negate how hard it is.
My Promise to You
Because I’ve walked this path myself, I won’t just tell you how joyful motherhood is, like many websites do. I want to share my real, unfiltered experiences so every new mom can find a “companion” here.
I want to tell you: you are not alone. What you’re going through, I’ve been there too. Your breakdowns, your helplessness, your moments of losing control—I’ve had them all. You don’t need to feel guilty. This is just a small, necessary stretch of the journey for every mom.
My Hope for This Space
I really want to share my parenting experiences—not just the warm, glowing moments, but to honestly document the pitfalls I’ve stumbled into, the tears I’ve shed, and the “survival wisdom” I’ve scraped together in utter exhaustion.
The Goal: A Mom’s Toolkit
I hope this blog becomes a “mom’s toolkit,” filled not with vague theories, but with:
- Practical Tips: Like how to quickly figure out why a baby is crying, tried-and-true methods for dealing with clogged ducts, or how to efficiently manage the daily grind with twins (or two under two) solo.
- Pitfall Avoidance Guides: Sharing the baby products I regret buying the most, and those “game-changer” parenting hacks. Letting you know which parenting anxieties you can let go of, and which principles are worth holding onto.
- A Community for Moms: I hope my stories connect me with more moms like you. We can cheer each other on in the comments, share our own tricks, turning the storms we face alone into a journey we walk together.
The Bigger Vision
My previous career taught me to analyze data, solve problems, and optimize processes. Now, I’m applying all those skills to this new “position” of Mom. I want to prove that a mom’s value is absolutely not confined to the home. The mindset, resilience, and creativity we built in our careers can shine just as brightly—perhaps even brighter—in this more complex, long-term “project” of raising humans, and can even be transformed into a force that helps others.
My hope is simple: that every mom who opens this blog can let out a sigh of relief and say, “So it’s not just me.” Then, she can find a bit of practical info, a dose of comforting solidarity, and return to her sweet, chaotic mom-life with a little more confidence and a little less weight on her shoulders.
This road? Let’s walk it together.
Re: Zosia MIDDLE NAMES?
I would have pronounced it Zoh-shuh. Are you saying it might sound closer to Sasha with a Z? I think it's pretty to look at and say (either way) and I would never think anything like Josiah. But you will of course get ignorant guesses.
Zosia Violet is very pretty. I'm not the biggest fan of double middle names but I don't shun them either. Technically I think it's fine and right to use the family spelling, but honestly, Helyn does make my eye twitch a bit.
Mine too! I think if we did the double mn route we would do Helen Jane. I haven't decided yet at all! (Honestly haven't decided on Zosia either, LOL).
As far as pronunciation, I have heard it several different ways, but I think for simplicity we would anglicize it more to Zoe-sha. The "o" is hard for me to explain to pronounce, I grew up around Polish so its easy for me to prn, but not so much explain, and DH can't do the "o" exactly right either. The closest I can say is either "Zuh" or a really really fast "zo-a-sha".
BFP #1: 12/22/10. EDD: 9/4/11. BDay: 8/30/11
BFP #2: 10/16/12. EDD: 6/27/13. Said Goodbye: 10/22/12
BFP #3: 11/20/12. EDD: 8/1/13. STICK BABY STICK!
Betas: 11/30/12 - 2819. 12/2/12 - 7339! Keep growing, baby!
Zosia Mamet! I think she pronounces it to rhyme with Sasha. I adore her.
BFP #1: 12/22/10. EDD: 9/4/11. BDay: 8/30/11
BFP #2: 10/16/12. EDD: 6/27/13. Said Goodbye: 10/22/12
BFP #3: 11/20/12. EDD: 8/1/13. STICK BABY STICK!
Betas: 11/30/12 - 2819. 12/2/12 - 7339! Keep growing, baby!
I thought it was Zoh-shuh
pretty
My first guess was Zo-see-uh. I would have totally butchered it.
I think the pronunciation problems would deter me.
This is what I thought too. I like it.
I think it will get butchered as well. I'm not surprised your aunt thought it was like Josiah. I mean it has "sia" at the end. I've only heard this name on one person (the actress from that show Girls) and hers is pronounced like like Sasha with a Z.
Personally, I wouldn't use it for the pronunciation issues. However, I think Violet Zosia would be a great compromise. You get both names you love and you wouldn't have to worry with her having all the name issues.
I think people worry too much about others pronouncing names correctly. I grew up with an extremely common name, but had to tell people how to pronounce/spell my last name all the time. Frankly, I would have preferred to have to tell people how to pronounce my first name than had the same name as 10 other girls in my high school graduating class.
If you love it, use it!
Zosia is one of those names I look at and have no idea how I'd pronounce it. I guess Zo-Shia? If it has enough family history that you're happy using it despite constantly having to correct people, then maybe.
FWIW, Esme is a much easier name to pronounce. Not a problem! So if you think you are correcting a lot now...
I thought it was pronounced like OSHA with a Z in front of it. I only recognized it because of Zosia Mamet from "Girls".
My friend's mom was born/raised in Poland and her name is Marzena (Mar-ZJon-uh) that ZJ sound threw too many people off when she moved here so she goes by her middle name (Anna). I think Marzena is really pretty!
I like Violet Zosia for a name. I have the same concerns you do - that Zosia will be butchered by the vast majority of people trying to pronounce and/or spell it.
In the end, if you love the name, go for it.
We're still slightly concerned about a nn Zoe and debating mns does Zosia Viola "cushion" sound weird? Or are there enough syllables separating the two? Any ideas? We must must incorporate my grandmother's name viola Jane somehow, names very close are okay. And of we can get a double mn using names like or exactly Helyn Josephine is good too. Thoughts? Tia!
BFP #1: 12/22/10. EDD: 9/4/11. BDay: 8/30/11
BFP #2: 10/16/12. EDD: 6/27/13. Said Goodbye: 10/22/12
BFP #3: 11/20/12. EDD: 8/1/13. STICK BABY STICK!
Betas: 11/30/12 - 2819. 12/2/12 - 7339! Keep growing, baby!
"I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life's a bitch. You've got to go out and kick ass." Maya Angelou
~ Auntie to L: 2013 and Peanut: EDD 11/2014 ~
I pronounce Zosia correctly, but then again, I'm half Polish, have lived in Poland, etc.
As for Helyn as her middle name, I can understand wanting to honor your relative. I think though that you can use her name as inspiration and opt to spell the name Helen. I wouldn't be able to bring myself to use the y'd spelling because that drives me crazy, even if that is how your great grandmother's folks decided to spell her name.